Pretzel heater and display device



J. H.'WALBORN 2,277,282 I PRETZEL HEATER AND DISPLAY DEVICE March 24, 1942.

Filed Feb. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jaw/v Al. NHLBa/QM' March 24, 1942. WALBORN PRETZEL HEATER AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jaw/v 16 #440015,

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRETZEL HEATER. AND DISPLAY DEVICE John H. Walborn, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application February 8, 1940, Serial No. 317,936

2 Claims.

My present invention, in its broad aspect, has to do with apparatus for keeping pretzels and pretzel sticks, and other forms of products in a heated, fresh and desirable condition, as for instance when such product or products are on sales display, and furthermore it is my purpose to provide an attractive, useful, and unique sales display device for counter, and other uses, whereby merchandising of food products is stimulated, and the products kept in a fresh, heated, and desirable condition for immediate consumption if desired. More particularly it is my purpose to provide a unique heating device which operates from house or service current, and which at the same time is adapted to illuminate or throw light beams through the pretzels placed thereon or in proximity therewith. My device is insulated from the counter on which it is placed; has means whereby salt and crumbs may be promptly and easily removed; has a simple, efiicient and serviceable construction which will not get out of order and which can be manufactured and sold at relatively small cost, and; is provided with a wire screen or mesh top through which light rays are projected to illuminate the product. Furthermore, in combination with a glass counter, my device forms a unique and attractive counter display. My device being in the nature and form of a rectangular (or otherwise shaped) object pretzel sticks are heaped around and over it so that in appearance the display is a heap of pretzel sticks through which the light rays shine; and these are kept in heated and fresh condition, and the attractiveness of the display is enhanced by the view of the pretzels obtained through the glass of the counter. Ordinarily four light bulbs are used in heating; two 60 watt bulbs and two 100 watt bulbs have been found satisfactory, and preferably my display arrangement is made up in the corner or end of a glass counter with an attractive sign arranged above it, and bags of pretzels or pretzel sticks may be stacked neatly back of the display and will be kept warm and fresh by my heater. My device may also be used to advantage as a window display or the like, and changes in form, size, shape and arrangement are within the purview of my invention, and are designed to be included in the scope of the claims appended hereto and forming a part of this application.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a counter display, partially fragmentary, and shows my device in operation;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a counter dis- P Figure 3 is a perspective view of my device;

Figure 4 is an end View of my device;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of my heater partly broken away to show interior parts;

Figure 6 is a transverse section of my heater and shows the operating parts thereof.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like or similar parts throughout the several views;

.The numeral I designated a conventional store counter, and 2 the glass top thereof. A sign 3 is preferably placed on the counter adjacent my display.

On the counter I adjacent the end or corner and within but spaced from the glass 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, I arrange my heater and illuminating device generally designated by 4 and which in its present form is rectangular and fabricated out of suitable sheet metal. The body part 5 has sides 6 and ends I and a bottom 8. The sides and ends are perforated to permit heat to pass from the interior; and over the open top is a screen or wire mesh arched cover 9. The cover has handles l0 and side and end rims or frames II; said frames or rims seating on and supported by a rib 12 around the inside of the body part adjacent the top edge as shown in Figures 5 and 6. It is obvious that the top may be applied or lifted off very simply to remove any salt or crumbs or the like which may enter the body, and to generally clean the device.

Inside the body part and arranged against two sides 6 and. one of the ends I is a substantially U-shaped, hollow, housing I3 having preferably four electric light outlets l3a in which two lights l4 and Ma; and I5 and [5a on each side are arranged to project into the body as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6. Bulbs I l and 15 are preferably watt; and bulbs Ma and 15 are preferably watt. Electric connections are all carried within the housing and suitable terminal connections, including a plug l6 are provided, and also a switch I! for turning the lights on and off. The housing is maintained in place within the body of my device by bolts I8 or the like.

In order to prevent heating of the top of the counter on which my device is placed; the bottom 8 of the body part has arranged in the interior a double asbestos shield 19 with a metal top 2|] which serves to insulate the bottom from heat.

In operation my device is arranged as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 adjacent the end or corner of a counter and spaced from the glass sides (and top) thereof so that pretzels or pretzel sticks or the like may be heaped around the sides and over the top of my device as shown at 2i in Figure 1; the light rays from the bulbs will shine between the pretzels or pretzel sticks and form an attractive display and the pretzels will be kept in heated, fresh and desirable condition. My invention is also adapted for window display and a suitable sign will complete the attractiveness of the display.

While I have shown and described a particular form of my invention, it is to be understood and it is accordingly emphasized that the scope of my invention is not designed to be limited thereby, and that changes in form, size, shape, construction, materials, and arrangement may be made provided the same fall within the scope of what is claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination in an illuminated counter display and heating device for food products, of a transparent container having an open bottom and adapted to rest upon a counter and within which the food products are carried, a housing within the transparent container and formed with sides, ends, a bottom and a removable top part, the bottom being insulated and the housing being disposed on the counter and spaced from all of the Walls of the container, the end and side walls of the housing having spaced openings therein, and the removable top being reticulated and arched, and the space between the side and end walls of the housing and over the arched top adapted to receive the food products to support the same in covering relationship with respect to the housing and in full view for inspection through the container, and combined heating and illuminating elements within the housing to be effective in respect of the food products.

2. The combination in an illuminated counter display and heating device for food products, of a container having transparent walls and ends and an open bottom and adapted to rest upon a counter and within which the food products are carried, a housing within the container and resting on the counter, and formed with an insulated bottom, and end and side walls, and spaced r from all of the walls of the container, the end and side walls of the housing having spaced openings therein, an arched top for the housing formed of wire mesh and removably mounted on the housing, multiple layers of insulation over the bottom of the housing, and combined illuminating and heating elements at the sides of the housing between the top and the insulation, and the space between the side and end walls of the housing and over the arched top adapted to receive the food products to support the same in covering relationship with respect to the housing and in full View for inspection through the container, and the combined heating and illumimating elements in the housing directing their rays to the food products ad providing visible illumination through the food products.

J. H. VVALBORN. 

